Pakistan has announced its squads for the South Africa tour, recalling former captain Babar Azam for Tests and white-ball matches. Babar makes his return after being dropped following the team’s loss to England in October and resting during the Zimbabwe series.
The tour, starting December 10, includes three T20Is, three ODIs, and two Test matches in Centurion and Cape Town. Fast bowler Mohammad Abbas also rejoins the Test squad, marking his first international appearance since 2021.
Spinner Sajid Khan, despite an impressive 19-wicket haul during the series against England, has not been included. Selectors prioritized the pace-friendly conditions in South Africa, opting for a more balanced squad. Selector Aaqib Javed explained the decision, saying, “We adopted a horses-for-courses approach. Leaving out Sajid was a tough call, but necessary.”
Noman Ali, Sajid’s spin partner, remains the only specialist spinner in the Test lineup. Noman’s performance against England, where he claimed 20 wickets, secured his spot for the upcoming series.
Shaheen Shah Afridi has been selected exclusively for the white-ball matches to ensure proper workload management. Fakhar Zaman continues to miss out due to ongoing struggles with form and match fitness.
The squads reflect Pakistan’s efforts to balance experience and adaptability for challenging South African conditions. The T20I and ODI squads feature several young talents, while the Test squad retains seasoned players for stability.
Squads for the South Africa tour:
Tests: Shan Masood (captain), Saud Shakeel, Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Babar Azam, Haseebullah Khan, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mir Hamza, Mohammad Abbas, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
ODIs: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Hasnain, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan
T20Is: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Haris Rauf, Jahandad Khan, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Tayyab Tahir, Usman Khan
The South Africa tour presents a key challenge for Pakistan as they aim to deliver strong performances in all formats.
